Confirm my research?

[LanceM]

I'm hoping to find someone who is willing to confirm my research about Norfork's spring striper run in Missouri. I don't want to blow up anyone's spot, so I won't mention any names (although this area seems to be well known). If anyone with experience is willing to chat, please send me a PM and we can discuss privately. 

I live 2-3 hrs away, and this is brand new water for me, so some confirmation would really help my confidence to make the trip. 

Thanks and tight lines!

[Gavin]

They run up the North Fork of the White trout water, all the way to Rainbow Spring. Hooked a real monster right below Kelly Ford a couple years ago. It towed me around in Kayak for what seemed to be an eternity. There in there...big pods of them. But they only eat, when they want to eat.

[fishinwrench]

10 hours ago, Gavin said:

But they only eat, when they want to eat.

This☝️ is a real thing with temperate bass. 

And in my experience it has only 2 predictable periods, both of which would require a lengthy float in total darkness unless your access point is within easy walking distance of the run where the fish are congregated at that particular time.  

Bryant is probably the better choice if you are specifically targeting Stripers, since it's easier to begin down low.....and access hop your way up.    It will likely take 3 consecutive days to find a sweet spot unless you can get some inside intel.  

The advantage leans heavily towards the folks that live nearby, so if you know a few......start picking their brains.   

[snagged in outlet 3]

Better have lots of time and gas money.  Unless you live nearby with near daily access and local intel you might as well mail me your gas money.  Been there, done that.  There’s no patterning those fish.  

[Ham]

Some live there all year. If you say there is a Spring push, Ok. I’m not sure there are enough there to make it a destination trip, but that’s your call. 
this was up by a private bridge not too far below the Springs

caught August 27. 2015. Dang the years are flying by

[Gavin]

Ham's little striper was from the long slow pool below McKee bridge...The springs are about a mile up from there. They are not just there and gone in the spring time. They seem to like it as thermal refuge in the summer months and an abundant crawfish populations keeps them fed. The hard part is access on that river...There are lots of private river houses near wear the stripers hang and you don't want to be "that guy" setting up camp on someone's gravel bar. Your pretty much limited to down river float fishing unless you have private access. Makes it hard to target the big brown trout as well. 

[LanceM]

Well this is interesting. I was actually talking about fish coming up from the lake and running up Bryant or White. I didn't realize there were stripers in/above the trout area. Do they pass through Dawt mill, or are they stuck above the mill and running up from there?

I have a jet boat, so coming up from the lake side and exploring a good length of river shouldn't be an issue. I planned to go up and down the Bryant Creek side, but would obviously have to stop at Dawt mill on the white river side. I'm very familiar with the finicky bite of white bass and hybrids, but would love to find a few stripers to play with. Unfortunately I don't have contacts in the area... Several years ago I pieced together a few lies while buying a tractor in that area, and seem to have found a little evidence to support my theory since then. I definitely don't expect great success on stripers, but hoping to catch some white bass and luck into some hybrids or stripers along the way. I'm a river guy and just don't have a lot of interest in fishing for them on the lake. 

[fishinwrench]

9 hours ago, Ham said:

Some live there all year. If you say there is a Spring push, Ok. I’m not sure there are enough there to make it a destination trip, but that’s your call. 
this was up by a private bridge not too far below the Springs

caught August 27. 2015. Dang the years are flying by

That one appears to be a mutt (of sorts).  

Here's a few from a Lake O trib that I believe are a bit more "pure". 

 

 

[Nick Adams]

7 hours ago, LanceM said:

Do they pass through Dawt mill, or are they stuck above the mill and running up from there

I think the mill dam has been removed completely. I don't know how passable it is via jet boat. I feel like @Gavin has posted about it in the past?

[snagged in outlet 3]

13 hours ago, Ham said:

Some live there all year. If you say there is a Spring push, Ok. I’m not sure there are enough there to make it a destination trip, but that’s your call. 
this was up by a private bridge not too far below the Springs

caught August 27. 2015. Dang the years are flying by

That looks like a hybrid.  But I’m not even an armchair biologist.